Foreword:
The following interview forms part 3 of a series of interviews conducted during the General Election. The author interviewed four current UoA students and alumni who stood for election for four UK political parties. In this third interview Mustafa speaks to alumnus and Conservative party candidate, Shane Painter. These interviews have been edited for clarity and length.
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I am Shane Painter! I’m from just outside Birmingham and lived there until the age of
10, then we moved to Shetland. In June, I completed my studies at the University of
Aberdeen, graduating with a degree in Politics and International Relations. Whenever
I get back up to Shetland I spend time with my pet sheep – Pirate – and enjoy
kayaking.
What motivated you to pursue politics while being immersed in a degree
pertaining to politics?
My passion for politics began before my university studies, and I’ve been involved in
politics for a while now. Both my university degree and my political experience have
really complemented each other.
In 2022, I ran as a candidate in the local council elections. This experience was
invaluable. I’ve been involved in Conservative party organisations both at university,
serving as the chair of the Aberdeen University Conservatives and I currently sit on
the board of the Scottish Young Conservatives (SYC), which has broadened my
perspective on youth representation in politics.
Why the Conservative Party? What key values of the Conservative Party
primarily aligned with yours?
It comes as a surprise that someone so young would be a Conservative. Far too often
we are seen as the party of pensioners, which, in my experience, isn’t the case at all. Before I joined the Conservative Party back in—I think it was 2018—I made a point
of actually reading through every other party’s manifesto and seeing which one I
thought best aligned with my views. For me, the reason it was the Conservatives was
that, at the core of everything they do, they uphold the basic principle of fairness.
I know a lot of people criticize our stance on immigration, for example. Our
perspective is that we need to take a tough stance on illegal immigration because it’s
unfair to the people who come through legally and follow the rules like everyone else.
We think that it’s unfair that people who work hard are then taxed at stupidly high
levels. We believe that if you work hard, it’s fair that you take home what you earn.
So, it was the principle of fairness that attracted me to the Conservatives, but the other
key difference between us and Labour is that progression should be based on merit.
How has your experience been with campaigning as a young candidate?
I had a really lovely time on my campaign. I had five key priorities at the heart of my
campaign: standing up for oil and gas, supporting our farmers and fishermen,
lowering the tax burden, standing up for our NHS, and focusing on local issues that
opposed independence.
I did do canvassing, but most of what we did was meeting with local businesses,
getting to understand their concerns and what they wanted to see, and meeting with
different members of the council. When I was doing canvassing, I never had anyone
say, “You’re too young to be doing this.” Actually, I got a lot of, “It’s really great to
see someone so young engaged in politics and wanting to make a difference,” whether
or not they were voting for me. The nice thing about Orkney and Shetland is that they
are small communities. Everyone knows everyone, and if you don’t know that person,
you know their parents or their son or daughter.
What do you perceive good leadership as? What are the traits of a good leader,
and who has shaped your beliefs on this?
It’s someone who says they’re going to do something and then does it. That’s all it
really is. Someone you can trust, someone who is honest, and someone who’s
genuine.
I know some people say, “We need a strong leader,” but if you have someone who is
honest, trustworthy, and has integrity, that’s the strongest thing they can be because
you can’t trip them up on their core beliefs. For me, the person who shaped that
opinion was Barack Obama. He was elected on a massive wave, and he said, “I’m
going to make healthcare in America more accessible for people,” and he did. He said
he was going to appoint more liberal Supreme Court justices, and he did. I think that’s why he’s so popular, not just in the United States but around the world—because he did what he said he was going to do.
And that’s why we lost this election. Liz Truss, who I voted for, came in and said, “I’m going to do X, Y, and Z with the economy, and everything will be fine,” and then everything wasn’t fine, and she lost her credibility overnight. Before that, Boris Johnson said, “I’m going to do X, Y, and Z, and there weren’t any parties,” but then there were parties. Then we had Rishi Sunak, who said, “I’m going to bring down illegal immigration, fix the economy, do X, Y, and Z,” and he didn’t deliver.
People just want a leader who follows through on their promises.
What are the most significant problems Scotland is currently facing?
Housing is a major issue. We have rent controls in Scotland that do not work. They
are great if you’re in a property and renting, but if you’re trying to move somewhere
or rent for the first time, rents in Scotland are rising faster than in London. The only
way to solve this is by building more housing.
Another issue is the drug death crisis—it’s a national shame. Not enough has been
done, and it keeps getting swept under the rug. And finally, our tax burden is too high,
stifling growth. In Scotland, if you’re earning over £28,000, you’re taxed more than in
the rest of the UK, which means key workers may choose to move elsewhere.
What is the long-term plan for you as a young Conservative leader?
Maybe if I’m fortunate enough, I’ll give some thought to running in the Scottish
elections in 2026, but I haven’t given it any serious thought yet. In the nearer future,
we’ve got two leadership elections in Scotland, and I’m looking forward to playing a
role in those campaigns. We’ll see where things go from there.
